U.S. patent application number 14/331662 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-21 for oral-care implement having color-communicative element.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Jens ALINSKI, Matthew Lloyd NEWMAN, Elizabeth Ann Brown RENO, Li (MNM) WEN.
Application Number | 20160015163 14/331662 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53762356 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160015163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NEWMAN; Matthew Lloyd ; et
al. |
January 21, 2016 |
ORAL-CARE IMPLEMENT HAVING COLOR-COMMUNICATIVE ELEMENT
Abstract
An oral-care implement comprises a mounting surface having a
longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis and a plurality of filaments outwardly extending
from the mounting surface in at least one direction not parallel to
either one of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, each
filament having a free end terminating with a tip. At least some of
the filaments possess at least one functional characteristic
selected from the group consisting of filament's structure,
composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any
combination thereof. A plurality of filament tips comprises a
working surface that includes at least a first color and a second
color different from the first color. The at least first color
forms at least one scaled-up image graphically replicating the at
least one functional characteristic, thereby visually communicating
to a consumer that the oral-care implement includes filaments
having certain functional characteristic(s)--and that the oral-care
implement possesses superior efficacy attributable to said
filaments.
Inventors: |
NEWMAN; Matthew Lloyd;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; WEN; Li (MNM); (Blue Ash,
OH) ; RENO; Elizabeth Ann Brown; (Fairfield, OH)
; ALINSKI; Jens; (Kronberg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Procter & Gamble Company |
Cincinnati |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53762356 |
Appl. No.: |
14/331662 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/028 20130101;
A46B 2200/1066 20130101; A46D 1/0238 20130101; A46D 1/0261
20130101; A46B 9/04 20130101; A46B 9/06 20130101; A46B 9/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/06 20060101
A46B009/06; A46B 9/02 20060101 A46B009/02; A46D 1/00 20060101
A46D001/00; A46B 9/04 20060101 A46B009/04 |
Claims
1. An oral-care implement comprising: a mounting surface having a
longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis; a plurality of filaments outwardly extending
from the mounting surface in at least one direction not parallel to
either one of the longitudinal and transverse axes, each filament
having a free end terminating with a tip; wherein at least some of
the filaments possess at least one functional characteristic
selected from the group consisting of filament's structure,
composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any
combination thereof; wherein a plurality of filament tips comprises
a working surface that includes at least a first color and a second
color different from the first color; wherein the at least first
color forms at least one scaled-up image graphically replicating
the at least one functional characteristic, thereby visually
communicating to a consumer that the oral-care implement includes
filaments having said at least one functional characteristic.
2. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a cylindrical shape of a
filament, and the at least one scaled-up image has a shape of a
circle having the first color.
3. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a filament's cross-section
comprising a polygon, and the at least one scaled-up image has a
shape of the polygon having the first color.
4. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises an elliptical cross-section of
a filament, and the at least one scaled-up image has a shape of an
ellipse having the first color.
5. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises an X-shaped cross-section of a
filament, and the at least one scaled-up image has a shape of an
X-shaped area having the first color.
6. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a star-shaped cross-section of
a filament, and the at least one scaled-up image has a shape of a
star-shaped area having the first color.
7. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a multi-lobal cross-section of
a filament, and the at least one scaled-up image has a shape of a
multi-lobal area having the first color.
8. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a tapered tip of a filament,
and the at least one scaled-up image has a shape of a triangle
having the first color.
9. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a filament's tip surface
including at least one island, and the at least one scaled-up image
comprises at least one area having the first color.
10. The oral-care implement of claim 9, wherein the at least one
island comprises a protrusion.
11. The oral-care implement of claim 9, wherein the at least one
island comprises a depression.
12. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a filament's tip surface
including a plurality of islands selected from the group consisting
of protrusions, depressions, and any combination thereof, and the
at least one scaled-up image comprises a plurality of discrete
areas having the first color, wherein a background has the second
color.
13. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a multi-component composition
of a filament, and the at least one scaled-up image comprises at
least one area having the first color circumferentially encompassed
by at least one ring having the second color.
14. The oral-care implement of claim 13, wherein the working
surface comprises a background having a third color different from
the second color.
15. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
filaments comprises at least a first plurality of filaments and a
second plurality of filaments, the first plurality of filaments
having a first functional characteristic selected from the group
consisting of filament's structure, composition, cross-sectional
shape, tip geometry, and any combination thereof, and the second
plurality of filaments having a second functional characteristic
selected from the group consisting of filament's structure,
composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any
combination thereof, the first functional characteristic being
different from the second functional characteristic.
16. The oral-care implement of claim 15, wherein the first
plurality of filaments comprises the first color and the second
plurality of filaments comprises the second color.
17. The oral-care implement of claim 15, wherein the plurality of
filaments comprises at least a third plurality of filaments having
a third functional characteristic selected from the group
consisting of filament's structure, composition, cross-sectional
shape, tip geometry, and any combination thereof, the third
functional characteristic being different from the first functional
characteristic and the second functional characteristic.
18. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a roughened area of at least a
portion of the filament's surface, and the at least one scaled-up
image comprises a broken line selected from the group consisting of
a dotted line, a dashed line, and any combination thereof.
19. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the first color
comprises a color-changing material that causes the first color to
gradually change to eventually match the second color after a
predetermined period of use of the oral-care implement.
20. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the first color at
least partially covers the second color, and wherein the first
color is structured to slowly wear away during the use of the
oral-care implement to indicate an extent to which the filaments
are worn.
21. The oral-care implement of claim 20, wherein the first color is
structured to substantially wear away after a predetermined period
of use of the oral-care implement so that the at least one
scaled-up image is noticeably altered by an end of said
predetermined period of use.
22. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least some
of the filaments are arranged in at least one tuft having a shape
comprising the at least one scaled-up image graphically replicating
the at least one functional characteristic of the at least some of
the filaments.
23. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least first
and second colors form, in combination, the at least one scaled-up
image graphically replicating the at least one functional
characteristic.
24. The oral-care implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one
functional characteristic of the at least some of the filaments
comprises a non-circular cross-sectional shape.
25. A manual toothbrush comprising the oral-care implement of claim
1.
26. A refill for an electrical toothbrush, the refill comprising
the oral-care implement of claim 1.
27. An oral-care implement comprising: a mounting surface having a
longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis; a plurality of filaments outwardly extending
from the mounting surface in at least one direction not parallel to
either one of the longitudinal and transverse axes, each filament
having a free end terminating with a tip; wherein at least some of
the filaments possess at least one functional characteristic
selected from the group consisting of filament's structure,
composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any
combination thereof; wherein a plurality of filament tips comprises
a working surface that includes at least a first color and a second
color different from the first color; wherein the at least first
color forms at least one scaled-up image graphically replicating
the at least one functional characteristic, thereby visually
communicating to a consumer that the oral-care implement includes
filaments having said at least one functional characteristic and
that the oral-care implement possesses a superior efficacy
attributable to said filaments having the at least one functional
characteristic.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure is concerned with an oral-care
implement, and in particular with an oral-care implement that
communicates to a consumer, by coordinated color pattern(s),
information pertaining to functional characteristics of its
cleaning elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Oral-care implements, such as manual toothbrushes and
refills for power/electrical toothbrushes, comprising a plurality
of cleaning filaments, or bristles, are well known in the art.
Typically, the filaments are arranged in tufts and are attached to
a mounting surface of a portion of the oral-care implement's
plastic body (also known as a "head") intended for insertion into a
user's mouth. Typically, the tuft has an outer lateral surface
having, overall, either a substantially cylindrical shape or a
substantially rectangular shape. The filaments' free ends can be
end-rounded or otherwise treated to eliminate sharp edges at the
filaments' tips and hence their potential harmful effect on gums
during brushing.
[0003] The oral-care implement's working surface, comprising a
"surface" formed by the combined field of the filaments' tips, can
be profiled to comprise any suitable shape, including, e.g. and
without limitation, concave, convex, wavy, and the like shapes. A
grip handle may be either removably attached to the head or made
integral with the head. The former configuration is typical for a
power brush, while the latter is for a manual brush.
[0004] Conventional cylindrical filaments have been used in a
variety of oral-care implements. While some toothbrushes comprising
cylindrical filaments can adequately clean the outer buccal face of
teeth, they may have certain limitations with respect to providing
effective removal of plaque and debris from the gingival margins,
interproximal areas, lingual surfaces, and other hard-to-reach
areas of the mouth. Smooth cylindrical surfaces and/or smooth tips
of the conventional filaments are not effective for picking up and
utilizing the particles in dentifrice. Nor can they have effective
abrasion efficiency against dental plaque.
[0005] Therefore, toothbrush manufactures, in addition to
conventional cylindrical filaments, have begun using filaments
having a variety of shapes, including cross-sectional shapes, and a
variety of surfaces, including textured surfaces. Non-cylindrical
filaments and/or filaments having textured or roughened surface may
provide a better plaque-removal and/or stain-removal efficacy.
Non-limiting examples of non-cylindrical filaments include
filaments having spiral or helical shapes, filaments having
elliptical cross-sectional shapes, filaments having rectangular
cross-sectional shapes, filaments having triangular cross-sectional
shapes, filaments comprising X-shaped or cross-shaped
cross-sections, filaments comprising star-shaped cross-section,
filaments comprising bi-lobal and multi-lobal cross-sections, and
the like. Oral-care implements having composite filaments, i.e.,
filaments comprising more than one material, are also known in the
art.
[0006] Multiple attempts to design more effective filaments have
been made. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,314 is directed to a
toothbrush having an improved cleaning and abrasion efficiency. The
bristles in that toothbrush contain longitudinal channels having a
depth sufficient to entrap a quantity of abrasive particles such
that during brushing with toothpaste, contact between the
channel-entrapped abrasive particles and the surfaces of the teeth
is improved. U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,143 is directed to a toothbrushes
having abrasive impregnated bristles of two cross-section designs,
i.e., to generally circular and polygon with the latter described
as having longitudinal groove arrangements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,794
is directed to rounded bristles having shovel-like distal ends for
more effective plaque removal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,402 is directed
to fiber-flocking synthetic bristles that can retain and more
effectively distributing a substance on the surface to be treated.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,230 is directed to bristles having a polygon
cross-section having at least two acute angles that impart a
"scraping" effect on the teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,777 is directed
to bristles having a rectangular cross-sectional area.
[0007] A variety of shapes of filaments and/or filament surfaces
used in today's advanced oral-care implements creates a need to
easily communicate, to a consumer, specific information pertaining
to a particular type or types of filaments used in a given
oral-care implement--and thus advantages provided thereby. A
typical toothbrush can have from about 400 to about 1000 cleaning
filaments. For example, in a basic brush having 36 tuft holes and
an average number of filaments 24, there are 864 filaments
altogether, tightly packed in tufts. If the filaments are stapled,
i.e., bent in half, the number of their free ends is 1728. A
typical cleaning filament's equivalent diameter, or an average
cross-sectional dimension, is from about 0.1 mm to about 0.21 mm.
Such a small size of an individual filament makes it virtually
impossible for a naked human eye to see, much less assess, the
individual filament's geometry, including the shape of the
individual filament's tip or cross-section.
[0008] A commonly assigned application CM04051FQ, EP14158836.8,
which is incorporated herein by reference, is directed to providing
an oral-care implement's head comprising a plurality of filaments
arranged in a tuft having a scaled-up shape with respect to the
shape of the cross-sectional area of the individual filament.
[0009] In addition, information pertaining to functional
characteristics of the filaments, including their geometry and
cross-sectional shapes, can be communicated by using color forming
certain shapes on the working surface of the oral-care implement.
Likewise, information regarding the superior efficacy of the
oral-care product, having those filaments, can be communicated to
the consumer. The present disclosure is directed to accomplishing
these tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An oral-care implement comprises a mounting surface having a
longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis and a plurality of filaments outwardly extending
from the mounting surface in at least one direction not parallel to
either one of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, each
filament having a free end terminating with a tip. At least some of
the filaments possess at least one functional characteristic
selected from the group consisting of filament's structure,
composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any
combination thereof. A plurality of filament tips comprises a
working surface that includes at least a first color and a second
color different from the first color. The at least first forms at
least one scaled-up image graphically replicating the at least one
functional characteristic, thereby visually communicating to a
consumer that the oral-care implement includes filaments having
certain functional characteristic(s).
[0011] The at least one functional characteristic may include the
filament's shape, such as, e.g., a rectangular or other
non-circular shape of the filament's cross-section perpendicular to
the filament's longitudinal axis. In that instance, the at least
one image comprises a rectangular having the first color and a
background having a second color. If the filament has a cylindrical
shape, and therefore a circular cross-section, the at least one
image comprises a circle having the first color and a background
having a second color.
[0012] In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one functional
characteristic comprises a rectangular cross-section of a filament,
and the at least one image comprises a rectangular having the first
color and a background having the second color.
[0013] In still another exemplary embodiment, the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a triangular cross-section of a
filament, and the at least one image comprises a triangular having
the first color and a background having the second color.
[0014] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the at least one
functional characteristic comprises an elliptical cross-section of
a filament, and the at least one image comprises an ellipse having
the first color and a background having the second color.
[0015] In one particular exemplary embodiment, the at least one
functional characteristic comprises an X-shaped, or cross-shaped,
cross-section of a filament, and the at least one image comprises
an X-shaped, or cross-shaped, area having the first color and a
background having the second color.
[0016] In a further exemplary embodiment, the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a star-shaped cross-section of
a filament, and the at least one image comprises a star-shaped area
having the first color and a background having the second
color.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment in which the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a multi-lobal cross-section of
a filament, the at least one image comprises a multi-lobal area
having the first color and a background having the second
color.
[0018] In another exemplary embodiment of the oral-care implement,
the at least one functional characteristic comprises a tapered tip
of a filament, and the at least one image comprises a triangle
having the first color and a background having the second color,
wherein the triangle proportionally approximates relative
dimensions of the tapered tip.
[0019] The at least one functional characteristic may comprise a
filament's tip surface that includes one or more islands, formed by
one or more protrusions or one or more craters. Then, the at least
one image comprises one or more areas having the first color and a
background having the second color.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment in which the at least one
functional characteristic comprises a multi-component composition
of a filament, the at least one image comprises at least one area
having the first color circumferentially encompassed by at least
one ring having the second color. In a further embodiment, the
working surface may optionally include a third color, different
from the first color and the second color, the third color forming
a background.
[0021] In another exemplary embodiment, the oral-care implement may
comprise a first plurality of filaments and a second plurality of
filaments, the first plurality of filaments having a first
functional characteristic, and the second plurality of filaments
having a second functional characteristic, wherein the first
functional characteristic is different from the second functional
characteristic. In a further embodiment, the first plurality of
filaments may comprise the first color and the second plurality of
filaments may comprise the second color.
[0022] In an exemplary embodiment of the oral-care implement
comprising three pluralities of filaments: a first plurality of
filaments, a second plurality of filaments, and a third plurality
of filaments. The first plurality of filaments may have a first
functional characteristic, the second plurality of filaments may
have a second functional characteristic, and the third plurality of
filaments may have a third functional characteristic. The first
functional characteristic and/or the second functional
characteristic and/or the third functional characteristic can be
selected from the group consisting of filament's structure,
composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any
combination thereof.
[0023] In one embodiment of the oral-care implement of the
disclosure, the at least one functional characteristic may comprise
a roughened area of a portion of the filament's surface, such as,
e.g., the filament's free end and an area adjacent thereto. Then,
the at least one image may comprises a graphic outline including
the first color and comprising a broken line, selected from the
group consisting of a dotted line, dashed line, and any combination
thereof.
[0024] In a further embodiment, some of the filaments can be
arranged in one or more tufts having a shape comprising a scaled-up
image graphically replicating a shape of the cross-section of the
filaments forming this of these tuft or tufts.
[0025] Embodiments are contemplated in which the first color
comprises a color-changing material or color-fading material. Such
a material may cause the first color to gradually change or fade to
eventually match the second color after a predetermined period of
use of the oral-care implement.
[0026] In one particular embodiment, the first color may at least
partially cover the second color, and the first color is structured
to slowly worn away during the use of the oral-care implement to
indicate an extent to which the filaments are worn. When the first
color is substantially worn away after a predetermined period of
use of the oral-care implement, the scaled-up image graphically
replicating the functional characteristic is noticeably
altered--and may even be largely destroyed. This can effectively
signal to the user that the filaments no longer possess the desired
functional characteristic(s) for effectively performing their
intended function.
[0027] The invention is also directed to a manual toothbrush and/or
a refill for an electrical toothbrush comprising the oral-care
implement as described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative
and exemplary in nature--and neither are intended to limit the
subject matter defined by the claims nor should be interpreted to
exclude embodiments not specifically illustrated by the drawings.
The detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be
best understood when read in conjunction with the drawings, where
like structures are indicated with like reference numerals.
[0029] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an
exemplary embodiment of an oral-care implement of the disclosure,
comprising a replaceable refill for an electric toothbrush.
[0030] FIG. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of an
exemplary embodiment of an oral-care implement of the disclosure,
comprising a manual toothbrush.
[0031] FIG. 3 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of a
conventional cylindrical filament.
[0032] FIG. 4 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary embodiment of a filament having a trimmed free end
having a generally conical shape.
[0033] FIG. 5 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a generally rectangular
cross-section.
[0034] FIG. 6 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a generally triangular
cross-section.
[0035] FIG. 7 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a generally elliptical, or oval,
cross-section.
[0036] FIG. 8 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having an X-shaped, or cross-shaped,
cross-section.
[0037] FIG. 9 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a star-shaped cross-section.
[0038] FIG. 10 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a multi-lobal cross-section.
[0039] FIG. 11 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a tip surface including a plurality of
islands comprising discrete craters, or recesses.
[0040] FIG. 12 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary filament having a tip surface including a plurality of
islands comprising discrete projections.
[0041] FIG. 13 schematically shows an enlarged perspective view of
an exemplary composite, multi-component filament comprising a first
material forming a core and a second material forming a sheath.
[0042] FIG. 14 schematically shows a side view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a working surface that
comprises a convex portion.
[0043] FIG. 15 schematically shows a side view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a working surface that
comprises a concave portion.
[0044] FIG. 16 schematically shows a side view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a working surface that
comprises concave portions and convex portions.
[0045] FIG. 17 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a circle and representing a cylindrical shape of a
plurality of filaments used in the oral-care filament.
[0046] FIG. 18 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of triangles and representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of filaments having trimmed free ends
of a generally conical shape.
[0047] FIG. 19 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of rectangles and representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of filaments having rectangular
cross-sections.
[0048] FIG. 20 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of triangles and representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of filaments having triangular
cross-sections.
[0049] FIG. 21 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of ellipses and representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of filaments having elliptical
cross-sections.
[0050] FIGS. 22A and 22B schematically show plan views of two
respective exemplary embodiments of oral-care implements, each
having a scaled-up image comprising an X-shaped, or cross-shaped
pattern and representing a functional characteristic of a plurality
of filaments having an X-shaped, or cross-shaped cross-section.
[0051] FIG. 23 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a star-shaped pattern representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of filaments having star-shaped
cross-sections.
[0052] FIG. 24 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a multi-lobal pattern representing a functional
characteristic of filaments having a multi-lobal cross-section.
[0053] FIG. 25A schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of discrete areas representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of filaments having tip surfaces that
include pluralities of discrete islands disposed thereon.
[0054] FIG. 25B schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
including three colors and comprising a plurality of discrete areas
representing a functional characteristic of a plurality of
filaments having tip surfaces that include pluralities of discrete
islands disposed thereon.
[0055] FIG. 26 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of rings and representing a functional
characteristic of a plurality of bi-component filaments comprising
a first material encompassed by a second material.
[0056] FIG. 27 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a first scaled-up
image, a second scaled-up image different from the first scaled-up
image, and a third scaled-up image different from the first and
second scaled-up images.
[0057] FIG. 27A schematically shows an enlarged plan view of a
cross-section of an individual filament of a first plurality of
filaments of FIG. 27, indicated by letter "A" therein.
[0058] FIG. 27B schematically shows an enlarged plan view of a
cross-section of an individual filament of a second plurality of
filaments of FIG. 27, indicated by letter "B" therein.
[0059] FIG. 27C schematically shows an enlarged plan view of a
cross-section of an individual filament of a third plurality of
filaments of FIG. 27, indicated by letter "C" therein.
[0060] FIG. 28A schematically shows an enlarged side view of an
exemplary filament having a rounded free end, wherein a portion of
the filament's surface, including the filaments round end and an
area adjacent thereto, is textured or roughened.
[0061] FIG. 28B schematically shows an enlarged side view of an
exemplary filament having a tapered free end, wherein a portion of
the filament's surface, including the filament's tapered end is
textured or roughened.
[0062] FIG. 29 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having an image comprising
dotted lines and an image comprising a plurality of dashed lines,
each of the images representing a functional characteristic of
filaments having a roughened or textured area of at least a portion
of the filament's surface.
[0063] FIG. 30A schematically shows an enlarged side view of an
exemplary filament having a functional characteristic comprising a
trimmed tip.
[0064] FIG. 30B schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
comprising a plurality of triangles representing the functional
characteristic of the filament shown in FIG. 30A.
[0065] FIG. 31A schematically shows an enlarged side view of an
exemplary filament having a functional characteristic comprising
surface irregularities formed by microscopic protrusions and
depressions.
[0066] FIG. 31B schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
representing the functional characteristic of the filament shown in
FIG. 31A.
[0067] FIG. 32A schematically shows an enlarged side view of an
exemplary filament having a functional characteristic comprising
side surface formed by profiled circular grooves.
[0068] FIG. 32B schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
representing the functional characteristic of the filament shown in
FIG. 32A.
[0069] FIG. 33A schematically shows an enlarged side view of an
exemplary filament having a functional characteristic comprising
the filament's differential-diameter.
[0070] FIG. 33B schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary
embodiment of an oral-care implement having a scaled-up image
representing the functional characteristic of the filament shown in
FIG. 33A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0071] As used herein, the following terms have the following
meanings.
[0072] "Color" includes, all spectral qualities such as red,
orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet, black, white, brown,
gray, and so on. In addition, the term includes any aspect of the
appearance of any components of an oral-care implement, such as,
e.g., filaments, that may be described in terms of relative
intensity, brightness, hue, lightness, saturation, as well as any
specific combination of the above--as long as one color (e.g., a
"first color") is distinguishable from another color (i.e., a
"second color") or other colors in visible light. For example, a
group of filaments having a dark-blue color and a group of
filaments having a light-blue color are two groups of filaments
having different colors for the purposes of this disclosure.
[0073] "Cross-section" of a filament is a filament's surface or
shape that is or would be exposed by making a straight cut through
the filament substantially perpendicularly to the filament's
longitudinal axis. "Longitudinal cross-section" is a filament's
surface or shape that is or would be exposed by making a straight
cut through the filament substantially parallel to the filament's
longitudinal axis.
[0074] "Filament's structure" includes, among other things, a
roughened or textured surface of a filament. For example, a portion
of the filament's surface can be roughened or otherwise textured to
include surface irregularities that would increase the efficacy of
stain and plaque removal from the teeth surface. Such a
roughened/textured portion may include, e.g., the entire surface of
the filament or only the filament's free end and an area adjacent
thereto. The term also includes a side-view profile of a filament
or the longitudinal cross-section of a filament. The term may also
refer to such qualities of the filament as having an antimicrobial
agent.
[0075] "Image" and "scaled-up image" refer to a visual
representation of an object, such as, e.g., a shape of the
filament's cross-section or a shape of the filament's free end,
which visual representation can be easily observed by a human's
naked eye in visible light. In the context of a filament, and
particularly filament's cross-section, an "image" or a "scaled-up
image" may beneficially have approximate likeness or resemblance to
the filament's cross-section represented by the scaled-up image.
The scaled-up image may, in some instances retain the essential
proportions of the shape being emulated by that scaled-up image.
One example of this comprises the scaled-up image of a cylindrical
filament, having a round cross-section. In other instances, only a
principal configuration need to be emulated by the scaled-up image,
and the relative proportions of the corresponding elements do not
need to be identical. If, for example, an X-shaped cross-section of
a filament includes 90-degree angles formed between two mutually
intersecting elements of the cross-section as viewed in plan view,
the scaled-up image of such an X-shaped cross-section may have
elements intersecting at angles from about 30 degrees to about 60
degrees--as long as the principal shape of the filament's X-shaped
cross-section is effectively communicated to a consumer through the
scaled-up image.
[0076] The terms "image" and "scaled-up image" also include visual
representations made in accordance with the Gestault principles of
perception, relying on similarity, continuation, closure,
proximity, symmetry, common-region, focal-point, and related
concepts. People tend to see the whole before they see the
individual parts that make up that whole. Because a human eye
differentiates an object from a surrounding area, people can
perceive a shape/form/silhouette/outline as an image of a figure,
while the surrounding area is perceived as a background. People
also perceive similarly looking objects as a group of related
objects, a pattern, or a single unit. When an object is incomplete
but enough of the object's shape is indicated, people perceive the
whole object by filling in the missing information. For example, a
broken line comprising two, three, of four identically curved lines
disposed in a shape of a circle will impart, as a whole, the
perception of a complete circle even though the object itself is
incomplete. Likewise, four straight lines disposed in a shape of a
square but not touching one another at "corners" will be perceived
as a square even though none of the lines is connected to any of
the other line.
[0077] "Plan view" of an oral-care implement refers to an
appearance of the oral-care implement as seen from above, wherein
the observer's line of vision is substantially perpendicular to a
fiber-mounting surface of the implement.
[0078] "Polygon" includes geometric figures comprising triangles,
rectangles, rhombuses, trapezoids, squares, tetragons, and the
like, as well as regular and irregular polygons having five, six,
seven, eight, and more sides.
[0079] This invention is particularly beneficial for the purposes
of communicating functional characteristics of filaments having
cross-sections comprising non-circular shapes. Two exemplary
embodiments of devices that include an oral-care implement 10 of
the disclosure are schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1
illustrates a refill for a power/electric toothbrush; and FIG. 2
illustrates a manual toothbrush. Each of the exemplary embodiments
of the oral-care implement illustrated and described herein
comprises filaments that possess at least one functional
characteristic selected from the group consisting of filament's
structure, filament's composition, filament's cross-sectional
shape, filament's tip geometry, and any combination thereof. In
FIGS. 1 and 2, such functional characteristic is filament's
specific cross-sectional shape in the form of "X" or "cross."
[0080] The oral care-implement 10 comprises a mounting surface 20
having a longitudinal axis LX and a transverse axis TX
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LX. A plurality of filaments
30 outwardly extends from the mounting surface 20 in at least one
direction not parallel to either one of the longitudinal axis LX
and the transverse axis TX. One skilled in the art will readily
understand that the filaments 30 may have different orientations
relative to the mounting surface 20 and to one another. Thus, the
individual filaments 30, or tufts of the filaments 30, may have
differential angles relative to the mounting surface 20--and
consequently may extend therefrom in more than one direction not
parallel to either of the axes LX, TX.
[0081] Each of the filaments 30 has a free end 40 terminating with
a tip 50, FIG. 3. FIGS. 3-13 illustrate several embodiments of
filaments having different exemplary cross-sections. In FIG. 3, the
cylindrical filament 30a has a generally circular cross-section.
The filament 30a has a free end 40a terminating with a tip 50a. In
FIG. 4, a filament 30b is profiled to have a free end 40b
terminating with a tip 50b. In FIG. 5, a generally prismatic
filament 30c has a generally rectangular cross-section. One skilled
in the art will understand that embodiments are contemplated in
which the prismatic filament 30c may have any suitable polygonal
cross-section, either regular or irregular, and comprising, e.g.,
three, five, six, seven, and so on, sides. Thus, in FIG. 6, a
filament 30d has a generally triangular cross-section and a free
end 40d terminating with a tip 50d.
[0082] In an embodiment of FIG. 7, a filament 30e has a generally
elliptical, or oval, cross-section and a free end 40e terminating
with a tip 50e. In an embodiment of FIG. 8, a filament 30f has a
generally X-shaped, or cross-shaped cross-section and a free end
40f terminating with a tip 50f. In an embodiment of FIG. 9, a
filament 30g has a body comprising longitudinal grooves and a
star-shaped cross-section. The filament 30g has a free end 40g
terminating with a tip 50g. In an embodiment of FIG. 10, a filament
30h has a generally multi-lobal cross-section and a free end 40h
terminating with a tip 50h. While the filament shown in FIG. 10 has
four lobes, other embodiments, comprising three, five, six, and so
one, lobes are also contemplated.
[0083] In an embodiment of FIG. 11, a filament 30i has a tip 50i
that includes a tip surface having a plurality of islands
comprising discrete craters, or recesses, 55i. In an embodiment of
FIG. 12, a filament 30j has a tip 50j that includes a tip surface
having a plurality of islands comprising discrete projections 57j.
While each of the exemplary FIGS. 11 and 12 shows four
substantially cylindrical islands, it should be understood that the
number of the islands and their shape are not limited to those
shown. For example, commonly assigned application Ser. No.
14/301,667 and application Ser. No. 14/301,716 disclose various
embodiments of filaments comprising craters; the disclosures of
these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0084] In an embodiment of FIG. 13, a composite, bi-component
filament 30k comprises a first material 31k forming a core and a
second material 32k forming a sheath. Other embodiments of a
multi-component filament, comprising, e.g., three or four different
materials are also contemplated by the present disclosure.
Bi-component or multi-component filaments can be produced by any
suitable method, e.g., co-extrusion, followed by drawing. Extrusion
may include multiple spinning techniques, such as, e.g., wet
spinning, dry spinning, melt spinning, gel spinning,
electro-spinning, jet-wet spinning, and the like. Another technique
for the production of composite filaments is commonly known as
"pultrusion."
[0085] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of tips 50 of
the filaments 30 extending from the mounting surface 20 comprises a
working surface 60. In a side view, the working surface 60 can have
any suitable configuration, as is known in the art. For example,
the working surface 60 can include a convex portion (FIG. 14)
and/or a concave portion (FIG. 15), or any combination thereof
(FIG. 16). The working surface can also be formed by filaments
and/or filament tufts having differential lengths relative to one
another. In a plan view, the working surface 60 has a perimeter
outlined by peripheral tips.
[0086] The working surface 60 includes at least a first color 61
and a second color 62 different from the first color. Depending on
the application, the first and second colors 61, 62 may be chosen
to comprise contrasting colors, such as, e.g., black and white, or
red and green. The first and second colors 61, 62 may also be
chosen to comprise somewhat related but at the same time definitely
distinguishable colors--particularly when these colors are mutually
juxtaposed on a product and the difference therebetween can be
easily observed. Non-limiting examples of the latter include a
first color 61 comprising light-blue color and a second color 62
comprising dark-blue color, or a first color 61 comprising red
(warm) violet/purple color and a second color 62 comprising blue
(cool) violet/purple color.
[0087] Any suitable method known in the art can be used to produce
the plurality of filaments having the at least first and second
colors 61, 62. For example, the filaments can be made from a
material having a desired color. Additionally or alternatively, the
filaments can be colored during an extrusion process. For example,
colored filaments can be made by first mixing colorant into base
resin, melting the mixture, and then extruding the molten mixture
through the capillary die. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,255, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses
a ring dyeing process wherein a filament is contacted with a dye
for a time sufficient to at least color surface and preferably to
also penetrate into a portion of cross-sectional area to provide a
degree of dye penetration.
[0088] The filaments can be colored in their entirety--or,
alternatively, only free ends and, optionally, surfaces areas
adjacent thereto can have a requisite color. The tips of the
filaments can be dyed as a post-process, after the filaments have
been cut, stapled into a brush head, and trimmed and/or
end-rounded. The filament tip can then be soaked into a liquid dye
for a specific period of time. To selectively dye a specific area
of the filaments on a brush, one can use, e.g., a cover with a
cut-out hole of the shape of the area that needs to be dyed. When
the cover shields a top portion of the brush head, only the
filament tips exposed through the cut-out hole on the brush head
(and having length of approximately 1 mm-2 mm) can be dyed, by
e.g., being dipped into a dye for a period of time.
[0089] Another example includes coextruding a filament having two
materials and two different colorants such as, e.g., the one
disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,834, the disclosure of which
is incorporated herein by reference, and which is directed to
sustained-release matrices for dental application including either
an anti-microbial agent or a colorant that is released from the
matrix when the matrix contacts water. The preferred matrices
include a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble support
resin.
[0090] In a further example, free ends of a plurality of
bi-component or multi-component filaments, each comprising at least
one core having a first color and a sheath having a second color,
can be treated to remove, mechanically or chemically, the second
material from the filaments' free ends (e.g., from about 1 mm to
about 2 mm) This would cause the core material, having the first
color, being exposed--and will result in the filament with a tip or
tips (and areas adjacent thereto) having the first color and the
rest of the filament's body having the second color.
[0091] The first color forms at least one scaled-up image 70 (FIGS.
1, 2) graphically replicating the at least one functional
characteristic of the filaments 30, described herein above. In some
embodiments, a scaled-up image 70 can be formed by the first and
second colors 61, 62 in combination. For example, the filaments
having the second color 62 may be arranged so that the second color
62 comprises a suitable background for the first color 61. The
scaled-up image 70 visually communicates to a consumer that the
oral-care implement 10 includes filaments 30 having a certain
functional characteristic or certain functional
characteristics.
[0092] Each of the first color 61 and the second color 62, and a
color of the mounting surface 20 can be coordinated as desired.
Such an arrangement may be particularly beneficial in embodiments
where the mounting surface is largely visible in a plan view,
through the plurality of filaments 30. For example, one of the
first and second colors 61, 62 can be selected to complement, or
coincide with, the color of the mounting surface 20, while the
other one of the first and second colors 61, 62 can be selected to
contrast the color of the mounting surface 20.
[0093] FIGS. 17-27 illustrate several exemplary, non-limiting
embodiments of the oral-care implement 10 comprising various
patterns of the image 70, communicating to a consumer a
corresponding functional characteristic of the filaments used in
the oral-care implement. For example, in FIG. 17, schematically
showing a fragment of a manual toothbrush comprising an oral-care
implement 10a, the functional characteristic of at least some of
filaments 30a comprises a cylindrical shape of an individual
filament, and a scaled-up image 70a comprises a circle having a
first color 61a and a background having a second color 62a
different from the first color 61a.
[0094] In FIG. 18, schematically showing a fragment of a refill for
an electric toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10b, the
functional characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30b
comprises a trimmed free end having a generally conical shape, and
a scaled-up image 70b comprises a plurality of triangles having a
first color 61b and a background having a second color 62b
different from the first color 61b. The scaled-up images of the
triangles may be designed to proportionally approximate relative
dimensions of the tapered tips of the filaments used in the
oral-care implement 10b.
[0095] In FIG. 19, schematically showing a fragment of a manual
toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10c, the functional
characteristic of at least some of the filaments comprises a
rectangular cross-section of a filament 30c, and a scaled-up image
70c comprises a plurality of rectangles having a first color 61c
and a background having a second color 62c different from the first
color 61b.
[0096] In FIG. 20, schematically showing a fragment of a manual
toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10d, the functional
characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30d comprises a
triangular cross-section of a filament, and a scaled-up image 70c
comprises a plurality of triangles having a first color 61c and a
background having a second color 62c different from the first color
61b.
[0097] In FIG. 21, schematically showing a fragment of a refill for
an electric toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10e, the
functional characteristic of at least some of the filaments
comprises an elliptical, or oval cross-section of a filament 30e,
and a scaled-up image 70e comprises a plurality of ellipses, or
ovals, having a first color 61e and a background having a second
color 62e different from the first color 61e.
[0098] In FIG. 22A, schematically showing a fragment of a refill
for an electric toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10f,
the functional characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30f
comprises an X-shaped cross-section of a filament, and a scaled-up
image 70f comprises an X-shaped pattern having a first color 61f
and a background having a second color 62f different from the first
color 61f.
[0099] In FIG. 22B, schematically showing a fragment of a manual
toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10F, the functional
characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30F comprises a
cross-shaped cross-section of a filament, and a scaled-up image 70F
comprises a cross-shaped pattern having a first color 61F and a
background having a second color 62F different from the first color
61F.
[0100] In FIG. 23, schematically showing a fragment of a refill for
an electric toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10g, the
functional characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30g
comprises a star-shaped cross-section of a filament, and a
scaled-up image 70g comprises a star-shaped pattern having a first
color 61g and a background having a second color 62g different from
the first color 61F.
[0101] In FIG. 24, schematically showing a fragment of a manual
toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10h, the functional
characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30h comprises a
multi-lobal cross-section of a filament, and a scaled-up image 70h
comprises a multi-lobal pattern having a first color 61h and a
background having a second color 62h different from the first color
61F.
[0102] In FIG. 25A, schematically showing a fragment of a refill
for an electric toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10i,
the functional characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30i
comprises a tip surfaces that include a plurality of discrete
islands disposed thereon, and a scaled-up image 70i comprises a
plurality of discrete areas having a first color 61i and a
background having a second color 62i different from the first color
61i. As is explained herein above, with reference to FIGS. 11 and
12, the islands may comprise depressions and/or protrusions. Also,
the islands may have any suitable cross-section other than a
circular one, shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The scaled-up image 70i may
be designed to reflect the number of the island and their
shape(s).
[0103] FIG. 25B schematically shows another exemplary embodiment of
a refill for an electric toothbrush wherein the functional
characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30ii comprises a
tip surfaces that include a plurality of discrete islands. In an
oral-care implement 10ii, a scaled-up image 70ii comprises a
plurality of discrete areas having a first color 61ii and a
background having a second color 62ii different from the first
color 61ii. The second color 62ii forms a background for the first
color 61ii. In FIG. 25B, the second color 62ii is shown as
comprising a generally circular shape, but it should be understood
that any other suitable shape, e.g., a rectangular or elliptical
shape, can be used, depending, e.g., on the cross-sectional shape
of the filament. A third color 63ii can also be used, e.g., as a
background for other scaled-up images, e.g., 64ii. All shapes or
images comprising colors 61ii, 62ii, 63ii, 64ii may be different
from one another. Alternatively, some shapes or images that do not
directly border each other may have identical or similar colors.
For example, the first color 61ii and the third color 63ii may be
identical or similar. Likewise, the second color 62ii and the
fourth color 64ii may be identical or similar.
[0104] In FIG. 26, schematically showing a fragment of a manual
toothbrush comprising an oral-care implement 10k, the functional
characteristic of at least some of the filaments 30k comprises
their bi-component structure including a first material encompassed
by a second material, and a scaled-up image 70k comprises a
plurality of rings having a first color 61k and a background having
a second color 62k different from the first color 61k. Discrete
areas that are circumferentially encompassed by the rings may have
the color identical to the second color 62k. Alternatively, the
discrete areas circumferentially encompassed by the rings may have
a third color 63k, different from both the first color 61k and the
second color 62k.
[0105] The oral-care implement 10 may have more than one plurality
of filaments 30. In FIG. 24, for example, the oral-care implement
10 comprises a first plurality of filaments 30h and a second
plurality of filaments 30H different from the first plurality of
filaments 30h with respect to at least one functional
characteristic selected from the group consisting of filament's
structure, composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and
any combination thereof. In one such embodiment, the first
plurality of filaments 30h comprises the first color 61h and the
second plurality of filaments 30H comprises the second color 62h,
FIG. 24. Thus, the first plurality of filaments and the second
plurality of filaments may differ from one another with respect to
both the functional characteristic and the color.
[0106] In a further exemplary embodiment, schematically illustrated
in FIG. 27, the oral-care implement 10m comprises at least three
pluralities of filaments: a first plurality of filaments 31m, a
second plurality of filaments 32m, and a third plurality of
filaments 33m. The three pluralities of filaments 31m, 32m, and 33m
differ from one another with respect to at least one functional
characteristic selected from the group consisting of filament's
structure, composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and
any combination thereof. For example, the first plurality of
filaments 31m may comprise filaments having a generally cylindrical
shape with a cross-section of a circle (FIG. 27A); the second
plurality of filaments 32m may comprise filaments having
cross-sections of a generally crescent shape; (FIG. 27B) and the
third plurality of filaments 33m may comprise composite filaments
having a bi-component structure comprising a core material 33mc
encased by a sheath material 33ms (FIG. 27C). One skilled in the
art will understand that the embodiment of FIG. 27 may comprise
additional pluralities of filaments or tufts of filaments (not
shown), disposed among or around the filaments 31m, 32m, 33m. These
additional filaments may be colored to provide a background
color--or to otherwise contrast one or more of the three
pluralities of filaments 31m, 32m, 33m.
[0107] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 27, there are
three scaled-up images: a first image 71m, a second image 72m, and
a third image 73m. The first image 71m comprises four similarly
curved lines and having the first color 61m. Because the four
curved lines are positioned in a general shape of a circle and have
identical color, consumers will perceive these four curved lines in
combination as a single unit comprising a circle or a ring. In
other words, the four identically curved lines having identical
color will impart an image 71m of a circle or a ring. The second
image 72m comprises two oppositely positioned crescents having the
second color 62m. The third image 73m comprises a ring having a
third color 63m.
[0108] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 27, the first image 71m
is formed by the first plurality of filaments 31m, the second image
72m is formed by the second plurality of filaments 32m, and the
third image 73m is formed by the third plurality of filaments 33m.
Such an arrangement of the filaments results in each plurality of
filaments forming, in plan view, its own shape, comprising a
scaled-up image of the functional characteristic specific for the
individual plurality of filaments. But it should be understood that
the three images 71m, 72m, 73m may be formed by any of the three
pluralities of filaments 31m, 32m, 33m in any suitable way. In
other words, any of the images 71m, 72m, 73m may be formed by
filaments selected from the group consisting of the first plurality
of filaments 31m, the second plurality of filaments 32m, the third
plurality of filaments 33m, and any combination thereof.
[0109] If, for example, the oral-care implement comprises a first
plurality of cylindrical filaments, a second plurality of
rectangular filaments, and a third plurality of X-shaped filaments,
the scaled-up X-shaped image may be formed by (a) the cylindrical
filaments, (b) the rectangular filaments, and (c) the X-shaped
filaments, or any combination thereof. Likewise, the scaled-up
rectangular image may be formed by (a) the cylindrical filaments,
(b) the rectangular filaments, and (c) the X-shaped filaments, or
any combination thereof. Of course, an embodiment is contemplated
in which the scaled-up X-shaped image is formed only by the
X-shaped filaments, and the scaled-up rectangular image is formed
by only the rectangular filaments.
[0110] In some embodiments, any of the pluralities of filaments may
comprise an individual tuft or a plurality of tufts. In the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 27, for example, any of the first,
second, and third pluralities of filaments 31m, 32m, 33m may
comprise an individual tuft or a plurality of tufts. These
pluralities of tufts can be arranged to comprise, in a plan view, a
shape of a scaled-up image of the cross-sectional area of those
filaments that comprise the thus arranged pluralities of tufts. The
disclosure of a commonly assigned application CM04051FQ,
EP14158836.8, is incorporated herein by reference. In the
embodiment of FIG. 27, the first plurality of filaments 31m
comprises a first plurality of tufts, the second plurality of
filaments 32m comprises a second plurality of tufts, and the third
plurality of filaments 33m comprises a third plurality of tufts.
The first, second, and third pluralities of tufts can be colored to
comprise scaled-up images as described herein.
[0111] Embodiments are contemplated in which any of the pluralities
of filaments may comprise any tuft or plurality of tufts. If, for
example, the oral-care implement comprises a first plurality of
cylindrical filaments, a second plurality of rectangular filaments,
and a third plurality of X-shaped filaments, an X-shaped tuft or
plurality of tufts may be formed by (a) the cylindrical filaments,
(b) the rectangular filaments, and (c) the X-shaped filaments, or
any combination thereof. Likewise, a rectangular tuft or plurality
of tufts may be formed by (a) the cylindrical filaments, (b) the
rectangular filaments, and (c) the X-shaped filaments, or any
combination thereof. Of course, an embodiment is contemplated in
which the X-shaped tuft or plurality of tufts is formed only by the
X-shaped filaments, and the rectangular tuft or plurality of tufts
is formed by only the rectangular filaments. Regardless of whether
or not the shape of any of the first, second, and third tuft or
plurality of tufts has a scaled-up shape of the filaments forming
that tuft or plurality of tufts, any of the first, second, and
third tufts or plurality of tufts can be colored to comprise a
scaled-up image or scaled-up images as described herein.
[0112] In further exemplary embodiments of the oral-care implement
10, schematically illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B, the functional
characteristic comprises textured or roughened area of the
filament's surface. FIG. 28A shows a textured area 39n of a portion
of the surface of a filament 30n, e.g., the filament's tip 50n and
a portion of the filament's surface including the filament's
rounded free end 40n and an area adjacent thereto. FIG. 28B shows,
likewise, a textured area 39p of a portion of the surface of a
filament 30p, including the filament's tip 50p and a portion of the
filament's surface including the filament's tapered free end 40p
and an area adjacent thereto. During brushing, the filaments
comprising textured or roughened portions can provide additional
benefits, due to an increased surface area and enhanced abrasion
imparted by the textured area on the teeth surface. This can
facilitate removal of dental plaque and/or stain. In addition,
surface irregularities and tiny voids in the textured surface can
also entrap and remove microscopic food particles and other
contaminants from the surface of teeth.
[0113] In FIG. 29, schematically shows a fragment of an oral-care
implement 10n wherein the filaments' functional characteristic
comprises a textured or roughened area. Two exemplary scaled-up
images 70n and 70p comprise, respectively, dotted lines (70n)
having a first color 61n, and broken or dashed lines (70p) having a
first color 61p. A background has a second color 62n different from
the first color 61n.
[0114] In further embodiments of the oral-care implement 10, one of
the colors can be designed to change with the passage of time--to
indicated to a user an extent to which the filaments are worn--and
eventually that the oral-care implement needs to be replaced with a
new one. This can be done using a variety of methods. For example,
the first color may comprise a color-changing material that would
causes the first color to gradually change--to eventually match the
second color after a predetermined period of use of the oral-care
implement. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,909, directed to
wear-indicating filaments, is incorporated by reference herein.
[0115] In another embodiment, the first color may be structured to
slowly wear away during the use of the oral-care implement. If the
first color covers a portion or portions of the second color, the
incremental wearing away of the first color would be incrementally
exposing the second color covered by the first color. This, too,
would indicate to a user an extent to which the filaments are worn.
Eventually the first color will substantially wear away after a
predetermined period of use of the oral-care implement, and that
scaled-up image graphically replicating the functional
characteristic will be noticeably altered or altogether erased.
This will indicate to a user that the oral-care implement needs to
be replaced.
[0116] One skilled in the art should realize that many more
embodiments encompassing the claimed invention can be constructed
based on the principles of the present disclosure. For example, an
oral-care implement 10t may have a scaled-up image 70t comprising a
plurality of triangles representing the functional characteristic
of a filament 30t having a trimmed tip, as is shown in FIGS. 30A
and 30B. In another embodiment, an oral-care implement 10u may have
a scaled-up image 70u comprising a side-view profile of a filament
30u having a functional characteristic comprising surface
irregularities formed by microscopic protrusions and depressions,
as is shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B. In further embodiments, an
oral-care implement 10v may have a scaled-up image 70v comprising
one or more waving and/or zigzag lines representing a filament 30v
having a functional characteristic comprising side surface and/or
longitudinal cross-section formed by profiled circular grooves, as
is schematically shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B. An oral-care implement
10w may have a scaled-up image 70w comprising one or more
alternating lines representing a filament 30w having a functional
characteristic comprising a filament's spiral configuration and/or
a filament's differential-diameter, as is schematically shown in
FIGS. 33A and 33B. Like the embodiments previously described, these
are non-exclusive, non-limiting examples of the oral-care implement
of the invention.
[0117] Some of the filaments may include an antimicrobial agent.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,834, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference, describes an antimicrobial agent
comprising chlorhexidine digluconate, which is well-known for its
gingivitis-prevention properties. The amount of chlorhexidine
included may depend, among other things, on the level of the
desired dosage, and may comprise between 1 percent and 30 percent
of chlorhexidine digluconate by weight.
[0118] While particular embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, various other changes and modifications may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Moreover, although various aspects of the invention have been
described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination.
It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such
changes and modifications that are within the scope of the
invention.
[0119] The terms "substantially," "essentially," "about,"
"approximately," and the like, as may be used herein, represent the
inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any
quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other
representation. These terms also represent the degree by which a
quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference
without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject
matter at issue. Further, the dimensions and values disclosed
herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the
exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited
value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value.
For example, values disclosed as "0.1 mm" or "90 degrees" are
intended to mean, respectively, "about 0.1 mm" or "about 90
degrees."
[0120] The disclosure of every document cited herein, including any
cross-referenced or related patent or application, and any patent
application or patent to which this application claims priority or
benefit thereof, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The
citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art
with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein--or that
it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or
references, teaches, suggests, or discloses any such invention.
Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in
this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same
or similar term in a document incorporated by reference, the
meaning or definition assigned to or contextually implied by that
term in this document shall govern.
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